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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Wading through molasses: a qualitative examination of the experiences, perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of Australian medical practitioners regarding medical billing
PLoS One, Vol.17(1), pp.1-15
21/01/2022
PMCID: PMC8782346
PMID: 35061797
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Abstract
Background
Medical billing errors and fraud have been described as one of the last “great unreduced healthcare costs,” with some commentators suggesting measurable average losses from this phenomenon are 7% of total health expenditure. In Australia, it has been estimated that leakage from Medicare caused by non-compliant medical billing may be 10–15% of the scheme’s total cost. Despite a growing body of international research, mostly from the U.S, suggesting that rather than deliberately abusing the health financing systems they operate within, medical practitioners may be struggling to understand complex and highly interpretive medical billing rules, there is a lack of research in this area in Australia. The aim of this study was to address this research gap by examining the experiences of medical practitioners through the first qualitative study undertaken in Australia, which may have relevance in multiple jurisdictions.
Method
This study interviewed 27 specialist and general medical practitioners who claim Medicare reimbursements in their daily practice. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
The qualitative data revealed five themes including inadequate induction, poor legal literacy, absence of reliable advice and support, fear and deference, and unmet opportunities for improvement.
Conclusion
The qualitative data presented in this study suggest Australian medical practitioners are ill-equipped to manage their Medicare compliance obligations, have low levels of legal literacy and desire education, clarity and certainty around complex billing standards and rules. Non-compliant medical billing under Australia’s Medicare scheme is a nuanced phenomenon that may be far more complex than previously thought and learnings from this study may offer important insights for other countries seeking solutions to the phenomenon of health system leakage. Strategies to address the barriers and deficiencies identified by participants in this study will require a multi-pronged approach. The data suggest that the current punitive system of ensuring compliance by Australian medical practitioners is not fit for purpose.
Details
- Title
- Wading through molasses: a qualitative examination of the experiences, perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of Australian medical practitioners regarding medical billing
- Creators
- Margaret Faux - University of Technology SydneyJon Adams - University of Technology SydneySimran Dahiya - University of New South WalesJon Wardle - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- PLoS One, Vol.17(1), pp.1-15
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Identifiers
- 991012992893402368
- Copyright
- © 2022 Faux et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Academic Unit
- National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article